May’s Neighborhood News

Welcome to your monthly look at what’s been happening and what’s upcoming in the neighborhood. It is our hope that this email will serve as a jumping off point for you to engage with us if you have questions or wish to help support the work we do on behalf of the neighborhood everyday.
Our FondrenFondren’s resident-centric organization, OurFondren Neighborhood Association, invites you to a movie night, this Saturday, May 14 at Fondren Park. They’re showing a classic, Ferris Beuller’s Day Off. They will have pizza, popcorn and drinks. Bring a blanket or chairs. The movie starts at 6:30 p.m.

Next Tuesday, May 17, OFNA holds their quarterly meeting at St. James Episcopal Church’s Fowler Hall. The doors will open at 5:30pm and the meeting will begin at 6:00pm. The topic is Planning and Economic Development in the City of Jackson. Eric Jefferson, Director of Planning & Economic Development, and Senator David Blount will be there.

In lieu of our regular happy hour at our office, we ask you to join OFNA on the night. An FRF representative will be on hand to answer any questions you may have.

Mississippi Craft Beer FestivalWe have announced the 2nd annual Mississippi Craft Beer Festival, to be held June 24 on the grounds of Duling Hall. Over 100 beers will be presented for sampling by twenty eight breweries. Save $5 on tickets when your purchase them today (purchase tickets here).

Four Seasons of the Cedars Visual and Performing ArtsIn case you missed the opening on May 5, “Best of Show” hangs through May 31, Tuesday – Friday 10am-4pm at The Cedars. The show features past winners from the past four years’ Cedars Juried Art Exhibitions and is a must-see.

Save the date for our 5th annual juried art show, opening September 1 at The Cedars. This year’s esteemed juror will be Sam Gore.

FRF is excited to award a new music scholarship to a Casey Elementary student from Fondren. A partnership with Ergon, the award will be given out during Casey Awards Day on May 17.

We’re listeningA listening session will be held June 9 at 5:30pm for the US Department of Transportation TIGER Grant recently awarded to the city for work on State Street (read more here). This is your chance to ask questions and learn more about the project. FRF will help facilitate that event at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church.

Taylor-Downing-Oxford CourtFRF is happy to announce the near-completion of the neighborhood’s newest housing opportunity located just west of Sal & Mookie’s between Taylor and Lorenz. I, along with Jeff Good, have been in talks with developer Bob King and their management company, LEDIC, to determine how we can best serve their residents. A future playground or park, a community garden and after school programming are all on the table. We welcome your ideas, your donations and your volunteer service.

Security Association of Fondren is an independent organization founded solely for the purpose of providing the Fondren neighborhood with a private security patrol service. SAFe has contracted with Securitas for services which include patrolling members’ homes; residence inspection when out of town; responding to requests for assistance from members or their monitoring services; escort assistance late at night; and more. For more information or to sign up, please contact Jerry Summerford at 601-982-2316 or js@jsummerford.com.

Celebrating

* St. Dominic’s celebrated 70 years in April. In the same month, the healthcare provider joined with us to celebrate ten years of the Phoenix Initiative. Began ten years ago, the Phoenix Initiative was a follow-up philanthropic effort of St. Dominic’s who had already pledged $1 million to the neighborhood through Fondren Renaissance. At the celebration, Origin Bank gave FRF a $12,000 check to help FRF, St. Dominic’s and neighborhood churches continue the work of rehabbing houses.
* UMMC held TWO topping out ceremonies in April, one for their School of Medicine and another for their Translational Research Center.* Our thanks and congratulations to Boy Scout Troop 8 Eagle Scout candidate Joe Coker who chose to redo our stone path at The Cedars as his Eagle Scout project.Ongoing* Wier Boerner Allin renovation/construction at 2727 Old Canton Road (read more)
* BancorpSouth construction at State and Old Canton (read more)
* The Meridian construction on Lakeland Drive (now preleasing)
* UMMC construction (read more)
* St. Andrews Early Childhood Education Center (read more)
* Venyu (construction will resume in October after a scheduled hiatus to complete another project).

Upcoming

* Symphony at Sunset, September 15 – The Cedars – honoring Claudia and Robert Hauberg

We’re your advocate. And we need your support. Many thanks for entrusting us to serve you.